REASONS TO BUY
Perfectly sensitive
Ultra-rugged
Powerfully stable
Exceptionally durable
Ideally tractioned
REASONS TO AVOID
Stays wet for a long time
A bit heavy
Sensitivity takes time to adapt to
La Sportiva Bushido III - Women's Review
This shoe is built for serious terrain, muddy weather, ultra distances, and everything in between
La Sportiva released the trail shoe of our dreams.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Our Verdict
The updated La Sportiva Bushido III is practically perfect. This shoe has been updated in the best of ways, leaving runners with an ultra-sensitive, rugged trail running shoe that is equipped for whatever trail conditions you choose to run in. With 3.8 mm lugs, a 7 mm drop, and an overall weight of 9 ounces per women's size 6.5 shoe, this shoe is designed for trail runners who want to tackle technical terrain in a reliable and well-tractioned trail runner. It is on the sensitive side, so if you are seeking a plush, heavily cushioned trail running experience, this won't be the shoe for you. See our full women's trail running shoe review to learn how the competition measures up.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
La Sportiva Bushido III - Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  Best Overall Trail Running Shoe for Women |  Best Bang for Your Buck |  Best for Comfortable Zero Drop Performance | Best Trail Shoe with a Traditional Fit | |
| Price | $145.00 at REI Compare at 4 sellers | $130 List $129.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods | $98.93 at REI Compare at 4 sellers | $105.93 at REI Compare at 4 sellers | $100 List $79.95 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | If a well-tractioned powerhouse of a shoe is what you're after, this 7 mm-drop, stacked-with-tech shoe is the one for you | This is our go-to recommendation for runners seeking a comfortable, well-tractioned shoe for short and long distances alike | Featuring an upgraded upper and a stable zero-drop design, this shoe is a dependable and comfortable trail running option, ensuring comfort even during extended runs | This is one of our top recommendations for a shoe that's familiar, like a road shoe, but provides everything you need over serious terrain | An affordable and functional trail shoe that is great for new runners, budget-conscious runners, any anyone looking to tackle moderate terrain |
| Rating Categories | La Sportiva Bushido... | Hoka Torrent 3 - Wo... | Altra Lone Peak 8 -... | Saucony Peregrine 1... | Brooks Divide 4 - W... |
| Foot Protection (25%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Sensitivity (15%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Comfort and Fit (15%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | La Sportiva Bushido... | Hoka Torrent 3 - Wo... | Altra Lone Peak 8 -... | Saucony Peregrine 1... | Brooks Divide 4 - W... |
| Sizes Available | 5.5 - 11 US regular, wide | 5 - 11 US regular |
5.5 - 12 US regular and wide |
5 - 12 US regular, wide | 5 - 12 US regular |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 28 mm | 26 mm | 20 mm | 29 mm | 29 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 7 mm | 4 mm | 0 mm | 5 mm | 7 mm |
| Rock Plate | 1.5 mm Dual-Density compressed EVA Rock-Guard in forefoot | No | TPU | Yes | No |
| Measured Lug Depth | 3.8 mm | 4.0 mm | 3.2 mm | 4.0 mm | 3.0 mm |
| Measured Weight | 9.11 oz | 7.52 oz | 8.14 oz | 7.95 oz | 7.82 oz |
| Upper | Air Mesh / Thermal Adhesive Microfiber / High Frequency Welded Ripstop Overlays | Mesh | Ripstop Mesh | Mesh | Mesh |
| Midsole | 4mm LaSpEVA / Compression Molded MEMlex | EVA | Altra EGO | PWRRUN foam | DNA Loft |
| Outsole | Bi-Compound FriXion® XT 2.0 V-Groove3 | Rubber | MaxTrac | PWRTRAC | TrailTack rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | None | Finger loop | Finger loop | None |
| Claimed Heel-to-Toe Drop | 6 mm | 5 mm | 0 mm | 4 mm | 8 mm |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
With multidirectional 3.8 mm lugs, a 7 mm heel-to-toe drop, and an incredibly beefy toecap, this is our go-to trail shoe recommendation for women.
Performance Comparison
From friendly flow tracks to rugged alpine peaks, the Bushido is the partner in crime every runner needs in their shoe lineup.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Foot Protection
One of the things we love most about the La Sportiva Bushido III is that it packs a lot of protection into a small, nimble package.
The forefoot of the Bushido includes a compressed EVA rock plate for underfoot protection, which is protective without inhibiting sensitivity. The slight extra outsole width protects you from small hazards on the trail.
We didn't just run in the Bushido; we tore this shoe apart to ensure that every bit of it was as fantastic as it seemed.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The heel stack height of the Bushido is slightly below average, but that compressed EVA rock plate makes up for that, resulting in above-average foot protection overall.
The toe cap is rugged and positioned well for deflecting rocks and stumps you accidentally kick. The upper air mesh and ripstop overlays are soft to the touch and do a great job deflecting dirt as you run. Small splashes are deflected well, but this is not a waterproof shoe, so crashing through a creek will leave you with wet feet. Previously, the Bushido had a GTX (Gore-Tex, i.e., waterproof) version, but we were unable to find that this iteration followed suit.
With a rock plate and enough cushion, this shoe is ready to harmoniously tackle technical terrain.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Traction
The Bushido III is an alpine-ready shoe thanks to its fantastic traction. La Sportiva redesigned the traction pattern on the bottom of the Bushido with this iteration, and we found it to be near-perfect, based on our battery of tests.
The outsole is comprised of vegan Bi-Compound FriXion XT 2.0 rubber, which provides a beautiful combination of bite and grip. The 3.80 mm lugs are angled and dispersed so you can control your directional changes, accelerations, and hard stops.
The Bushido III performed spectacularly on even the least favorable terrain we could find.
The U-shaped lugs are precisely placed to create security across rock scrambles, loose terrain, and steep descents. During our testing, we found that we could truly feel the grip of these shoes across granite faces, which is incredibly uncommon in the world of trail shoes. The strong traction of the updated Bushido combines with its inherent stability to create a ready-for-anything kind of trail companion.
The layout of the lugs helps you stop and turn on a dime - even if the conditions underfoot are slick and unpredictable.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Sensitivity
A majority of the trail shoes we test have a total stack height at or around 28 mm, but not all of them provide the same, awesome trail feel as the Bushido III.
With enough cushion to prevent you from feeling like you're running in barefoot shoes, the improved Bushido III balances sensitivity and comfort heroically. This shoe is built for runners who love to know what is going on on the trails beneath their feet; it is a far cry from the trending, carbon-plated speed shoes flooding the trail running world at the moment. We previously described the Bushido II as having a “stiff and thin” outsole, but recent updates to this version III have made us change our tune.
Though its sensitivity rating is its highest, the Bushido promises long-lasting traction, rugged comfort, and so much more.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
La Sportiva maintained the heel-to-toe drop height of the Bushido, which allows your toes to ride at a more comfortable 21 mm above the trail, just like the previous version. However, they reduced the lug depth by 0.2 mm, which may seem minor, but the creators of this shoe have managed to maintain the Bushido's sensitivity while adding comfort, making it a true force on technical trails.
The undercarriage of this shoe sets the bar high in terms of sensitivity. No other shoe in our lineup compares to the Bushido's sensitivity, strength, and comfort balance.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Stability
The Bushido stands in a league of its own when it comes to stability. It won't be the shoe to truly correct overpronation (not many are), but if you want a seriously stable shoe that lets you feel in control, we can't recommend the Bushido III enough.
The security of the heel cup and traction-induced braking system inspires confidence on slick and technical terrain. The strength of the lateral edges helps keep your feet where they need to be, and the midfoot lock and taper feel secure, even without over-tightening the laces. Though average, the 7 mm drop feels stable and manages to feel nearly impervious to ankle rolling, making this a great shoe for runners who have that tendency. To make things even sweeter, La Sportiva released the Bushido III with wide options available. This means that the wider-footed runners can enjoy the toebox space for added stability and comfort.
When stability and agility are crucial components of running success, this is the shoe we reach for.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Comfort and Fit
As you can already tell, we love this shoe and are obsessed with its incredible updates. The updated construction of the Bushido III makes it significantly more comfortable than we could have anticipated.
As mentioned, the slightly higher forefoot stack adds extra underfoot cushion. This helps make the Bushido more suitable for a wider variety of runners. Even the standard fit is ever so slightly wider, further adding to its ability to accommodate different anatomies. The upper textiles are soft to the touch, and the plush tongue helps prevent the lockdown from becoming painful as your feet swell with movement. The breathability of the upper helps make the Bushido suitable for summer runs at altitude. The heel collar is standard and comfortably tapered, adding to this shoe's overall comfort. La Sportiva knocked it out of the park with these comfort updates, taking the Bushido III from a sensitive and rugged shoe to a sensitive, rugged, comfortable powerhouse that is ready to kick it with you on trails for a few hundred miles.
The upper mesh of the Bushido is comfortable and protective, though it doesn't dry as quickly as the uppers of other shoes do.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Our one caveat in this metric is the fit. We are delighted by the wider offerings from La Sportiva, but they are a European company and thus follow European sizing. Their website provides an easy-to-use size chart to help you sort out your size but also notes that buying a half size up is a smart choice. The manufacturer also notes that they use European half sizes, which includemore sizes than American half sizes. Our main tester purchased a US size 7 (EU 38), as usual, and found complete comfort, though the shoe felt a tiny bit short. Buying a half size up would have likely added even more comfort.
We agree with La Sportiva's recommendation to get half a size up for maximal Bushido comfort and fit.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Weight
This iteration of the Bushido weighs slightly more than the past version. Weighing in at 9.11 ounces for a women's size 6.5, it is nearly an ounce more to work with underfoot.
This bit of extra weight is worth it to us because of the upgraded comfort features the Bushido III offers. With such strong traction and comfort in the necessary places, a 9-ounce trail shoe is well within the boundary of “normal” for most trail runners.
While not the lightest shoe, it offers such rugged protection that an extra ounce does not break the love affair we have going with the Bushido III.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the La Sportiva Bushido III?
If we had to answer this question in one word, our testers would shout a resounding “Yes!” While we all have our personal preferences when it comes to our running shoes, the performance of the Bushido III is high. This is a shoe that demonstrates capability on nearly all terrain types. Runners looking for a plush ride might not enjoy the sensitivity of the Bushido, so that is something to keep in mind. Runners seeking a carbon-plated speed demon may find the traditional approach of the Bushido to be a bit basic, though the Bushido is perfectly capable of accompanying you at higher speeds. The Bushido rides like the trail shoe we've always dreamed of and we think that this shoe will have the alpine athlete inside of you jumping for joy.
Runners are hard-pressed to find shoes that deliver across all rating metrics. The new Bushido is one that fulfills each bit of our rating criteria with ease.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?
If a shoe with a lot of sensitivity sounds like what you're after, the Nnormal Kjerag is another great option. The Kjerag has more minimalistic construction than the Bushido III, which takes a bit of getting used to but provides comfortable agility once your feet toughen up. The Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 has long been a GearLab favorite for its combined comfort, sensitivity, and rugged trail capabilities. For a shoe with a bit more comfort and far less sensitivity, the speed-focused Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra is a race-ready trail shoe that combines traction and responsiveness for an incredibly fun ride.
—Ally Arcuri
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